Biography
Several years prior to Boyz II Men’s arrival on Motown with “Motownphilly,” another Philadelphia sibling vocal group appeared on the same label as Guinn. Their self-titled 1986 album, an under-promoted collection of mature and finely polished R&B, introduced the original recording of “Dreamin’,” which Vanessa Williams would transform into a hit two years afterward.
Guinn comprised Bonnie, Earl, Margie, Michael, Randy, and Skip Guinn together with Lori Fulton. A number of the sisters had already performed during the 1970s as the Passionettes. In 1984 the Guinns released the single “Prove It to Me” on Philly World under the name New Experience. After Fulton joined and the act signed with Motown, the album Guinn was cut with “Prove It to Me” collaborator Michael Forte, Donald Robinson, and Bobby Eli serving as producers. The singles “Dreamin’,” “Open Your Door,” and the contemporary gospel-flavored “People Will Be People” failed to register on the Billboard charts, and the parent LP met the same fate. Robinson subsequently produced a similar version of “Dreamin’” for Vanessa Williams, who carried the song into the Top Ten of the Hot 100 in 1988. Fulton, lead singer on the original and a background vocalist on the later hit, continued as a session vocalist. Some of the Guinns stayed active in music; most notably, Earl co-wrote Philadelphian Musiq Soulchild’s 2007 Top 40 pop single “B.U.D.D.Y.”
Guinn comprised Bonnie, Earl, Margie, Michael, Randy, and Skip Guinn together with Lori Fulton. A number of the sisters had already performed during the 1970s as the Passionettes. In 1984 the Guinns released the single “Prove It to Me” on Philly World under the name New Experience. After Fulton joined and the act signed with Motown, the album Guinn was cut with “Prove It to Me” collaborator Michael Forte, Donald Robinson, and Bobby Eli serving as producers. The singles “Dreamin’,” “Open Your Door,” and the contemporary gospel-flavored “People Will Be People” failed to register on the Billboard charts, and the parent LP met the same fate. Robinson subsequently produced a similar version of “Dreamin’” for Vanessa Williams, who carried the song into the Top Ten of the Hot 100 in 1988. Fulton, lead singer on the original and a background vocalist on the later hit, continued as a session vocalist. Some of the Guinns stayed active in music; most notably, Earl co-wrote Philadelphian Musiq Soulchild’s 2007 Top 40 pop single “B.U.D.D.Y.”
Albums
Singles
